73.
Aarav held Shaurya's arm as he pulled him outside, but he was already on the verge of breaking.
The sun was sinking behind the horizon, painting the sky in washed shades of violet and soft purple.
And under that dimming light, Aarav suddenly wrapped his arms around Shaurya and held him tight—his body trembling, breath uneven, tears sliding down silently.
Shaurya's arms came around him instantly, firm and warm.
"Shhh... it's okay," he murmured, his voice low, soothing. "I'm back now."
He stroked Aarav's hair gently, like calming a storm with his palm.
Aarav nodded against his chest, trying to swallow the ache in his throat.
After a long moment, he forced himself to pull back, wiping his wet eyelashes with his thumb.
He exhaled—a shaky, shivering breath—as if his lungs had forgotten how to breathe until now.
Shaurya reached forward, taking Aarav's hand in both of his.
Without shifting his gaze, he lifted Aarav's hand slowly, reverently, and pressed a soft kiss to his knuckles.
Then, in a gesture that always broke Aarav just a little more, Shaurya lowered his head and touched his forehead to Aarav's hand, holding it there for a few seconds.
That single touch made Aarav feel everything at once.
It felt like those old days again—when he used to wait endlessly for Shaurya, back when every night felt painful and lonely. When he had no one, when the world felt too large and he felt too small. Those days when he was a lost son from a broken family.
And in these last thirteen days... he had realized he no longer had any parents left either. He never got to be the son Surya Singh Chauhan had wanted. He never mourned his father properly. And distancing himself from the rest of his family—it was suffocating him, slowly, quietly.
But this was not the moment to collapse. Not in front of Shaurya. Not when Shaurya had just returned.
So Aarav swallowed the ache and pushed it down, deep. He wiped the last traces of tears from his cheeks and forced a small smile, fragile but sincere.
"I'm... I'm glad you're back," he whispered.
Shaurya cupped Aarav's face gently, his thumbs brushing the faint dampness beneath Aarav's eyes.
"I know you're carrying something inside you," he murmured, voice low and steady. "When we go back to your place... talk to me. Whatever it is, I want to hear it. Will you tell me?"
Aarav swallowed hard and nodded, offering him a small, sad smile.
He lowered himself onto the soft grass, the sky above them fading into a dreamy wash of purple and rose. He patted the space beside him. Shaurya sat, without hesitation, and Aarav immediately intertwined their fingers, resting his head against Shaurya's arm.
The quiet felt heavy, but safe.
Shaurya slid an arm around Aarav's waist and pulled him closer until Aarav's cheek rested against his chest. His heartbeat was steady... soothing... a rhythm Aarav had missed more than he wanted to admit.
Shaurya dipped his head and pressed slow, lingering kisses into Aarav's hair.
"Hum aapke bina pagal ho gaye the waha," he whispered.
Aarav huffed, half-laughing, half-sniffling. "Woh toh aap waise bhi hai, Shaurya."
Shaurya chuckled softly.
"I have something for you," he said.
Aarav lifted his head, curious. Shaurya brought his hand forward, revealing a familiar golden shimmer. Aarav blinked—then his eyes widened when he recognized it.
Their wedding ribbon.
Aarav's breath caught in his throat. He reached for it slowly, fingertips brushing the delicate metallic work. The design was different—more intricate. More beautiful.
"You... you got it fixed?" Aarav whispered.
Shaurya nodded.
Aarav held it delicately, admiring the new pattern. "It looks... gorgeous. You changed the design a little."
"I thought of adding our initials too—"
"And you will not do that. Ever." Aarav cut in immediately, frowning as he glared at him. Shaurya raised a brow.
"I am not wearing something with your name on my ankle," Aarav muttered, eyes still on the ribbon. "That's weird. And honestly... disrespectful."
Shaurya just stared at him—soft, full of something warm and deep and aching.
Aarav's lip trembled again. Tears gathered despite him trying not to break.
"Baby..." Shaurya whispered.
"Just happy tears," Aarav said quickly, brushing them away. He leaned forward and pressed a tiny, tender kiss to Shaurya's cheek. "I love it. I love you."
He shifted, sitting up straighter with his knees pulled close, trying to compose himself again.
"Tell me about you," he said. "How did everything go? You're the Big Boss now." A small teasing smile tugged at his lips.
Shaurya exhaled. "It was just few people. They needed signatures—formalities. Dad was... happy." His expression softened. "I would've come earlier but I had to stay back to handle Ozge's son's situation too. I'm sorry."
Aarav shook his head immediately.
"You didn't go to the council though," Aarav said quietly. "I thought you'd sign those papers there."
Shaurya exhaled slowly. "I don't think I could do it without you.
I want you beside me when we finally announce it to the entire mafia world.
And also... to remind people that you're my other half.
Which means you hold the same authority as I do.
Any decision you make must be respected by everyone—including me. "
"I'll never try to control you," Aarav murmured, gently tucking the ribbon into his pocket.
There was a beat of silence, and then Aarav's voice lowered. "Shaurya... the divorce papers I requested from the council—they arrived."
Shaurya's jaw flexed once. "Yeah. So do you still want to divorce me?"
Aarav shook his head instantly. "I'm burning those papers."
His voice cracked a little.
"We already got an annulment once—just because my impatient, egoistic ass can't think properly half the time.
" The guilt in his tone was impossible to miss.
It was their decision to marry both legally and in the mafia world.
Legally wasn't possible in India, so they chose Greece.
Hardly anyone knew them there... at least not anyone who'd care.
And still, because Aarav belong to a royal family, some people recognised him.
Therefore Shaurya had to threaten the whole government of Greece just so they wouldn't expose their marriage.
Aarav swallowed hard.
"I always loved the feeling that you were my spouse. And what did I do in the end? I asked for an annulment. As if our marriage meant nothing. As if it was something shameful... or illegal."
"You're overthinking." Shaurya reached out and brushed Aarav's cheek with his thumb. "It's okay. We'll get married again. And this time, I won't screw up."
"You better not," Aarav muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Or I hope you remember that kick on your precious part."
Shaurya cleared his throat so fast it almost made Aarav laugh.
"How could I forget?" Shaurya muttered. "I was bedridden for a day."
Aarav's lips twitched.
Shaurya then grew serious again. "There's something about Aarya I need to talk to you about. But not right now. When the time is right."
"Okay," Aarav nodded. The worry curled in his chest again. He knew what Shaurya meant. Aarya was Shaurya's daughter. Eventually, she would have to go with him. But would she adjust? After growing up so freely here in Udaipur? How would she react when she learned who she really was?
Before Aarav could spiral again, a staff member approached with a small paper bag.
"Sir, here it is."
Both Aarav and Shaurya stood up. Aarav took the bag.
"Thanks," Aarav said, dismissing him.
"What is it?" Shaurya asked.
"Fever medication for Yug," Aarav replied, worry slipping into his tone. "But the problem is... he's barely eating anything. These pills are too strong to take on an empty stomach. I don't know what to do."
"Yeah, he did look pretty weak to me," Shaurya agreed.
Aarav let out a long breath. Without thinking, their hands found each other again—fingers interlocking naturally. They walked back inside together.
Aarav placed the medicines on the table. Before he could even breathe, Shaurya slipped his arms around him from behind, pulling him close as he rubbed his beard playfully against Aarav's cheek.
"Hum aapko ghar le jaayenge," Shaurya murmured against his ear. "Humara ghar. Everyone is waiting, Aarav."
Aarav nodded and turned to face him, but worry still lingered in his eyes.
"But... now?"
"You can't leave Yug alone, I know." Shaurya cupped his face gently. "So I want him to come with us. Maybe a change of atmosphere will help him. He looks... exhausted."
"Only if he doesn't see people dying every day," Aarav muttered. "Yug hates that world. I don't think he can live like us."
"I'll make sure he doesn't even get a glimpse of any of it," Shaurya promised.
Before Aarav could respond, Ravi appeared at the door.
"Aarav..."
"Yeah? Is everything okay? You guys are weirdly quiet," Aarav said.
Ravi's expression was unreadable. "Yug is not feeling well. He almost passed out just now."
"What?" Aarav didn't waste a second—he rushed to Yug's room. "I told him to eat something," he muttered under his breath.
Yug was lying on the bed, pale and weak. Aarya sat beside him, looking adorably serious—like a tiny doctor examining her patient.
"Papa, Yug Uncle is not feeling good," she pouted. Shaurya gently lifted her into his arms.
Aarav checked Yug's forehead, and his worry deepened.
"God, he's burning up."
"Yug, please eat something," Aarav said, his voice soft but firm. "You can't take medicine on an empty stomach."
"I think he's lost his sense of taste," Shaurya said. "Does he like anything spicy?"
Aarav nodded. "He loves Chinese."
"I'll order some," Ravi said immediately and stepped out.
Yug sighed. "You guys don't have to do all this... I'm fine."
"Fine my foot," Aarav snapped, but the tremble in his voice betrayed his worry.
Yug asked Shaurya and Aarav to keep Aarya away from him—terrified she would catch his cold. So Aarya was sent back to Aarav's apartment with an escort.
When the food arrived, Aarav forced Yug to take a few bites—only two managed to go down. Still, it was enough for him to take the medicine. Yug then quietly asked them to leave for the night. He wanted some time alone.
Aarav didn't want to, but he understood. The kind of loneliness Yug was experiencing could suffocate even the strongest person.
So they left—but not without precautions.
Shaurya pulled Ravi aside. "Keep an eye on him," he instructed.
Ravi nodded. He stayed behind, quietly settling himself into another room—making sure Yug would never know.
Just in case.